59
Backers
$5,037
pledged of $5,000 goal
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on March 12, 2010.
Pledge $5 or more
A whole set of buttons with cute elementary faces of town members (includes 7 buttons).
Pledge $10 or more
A button set and a free download of our record "Your Big Plans & Our Little Town".
Pledge $20 or more
A button set, a tee-shirt, and a signed hardcopy of our debut double-deluxe record "Your Big Plans & Our Little Town".
Pledge $50 or more
A button set, a tee-shirt, our debut record + our EPs "Subway Songs" and "Cowboy Songs".
Pledge $100 or more
A signed print by town drawer Michael Arthur + two tickets to our show near you + our records + a tee-shirt and a button set.
Pledge $200 or more
A signed original by Michael Arthur + tickets + buttons + tee shirt + all our records!
Pledge $300 or more
An unreleased song recorded and sent to you + a signed original by Michael Arthur + tickets + buttons + tee shirt + all our records!
Pledge $500 or more
A signed print of the drawing for "I Look At You" by Michael Arthur + Georgiana's famous "Alabama Sweet Balls" sent to you (Overnight US ONLY) + tickets + buttons + tee shirt + all our records!
Pledge $1,000 or more
An in-home performance from the town when we play near you + Georgiana's famous "Alabama Sweet Balls" sent to you (Overnight US ONLY) + an unreleased song recorded and sent to you + a signed original by Michael Arthur + tickets + buttons + tee shirt + all our records!
Project By
Connected as Lauren Balthrop (1004 friends)
In 2006, Alabama-born songwriter-siblings Pascal and Lauren Balthrop moved to New York City to start a band and ended up founding a town. Balthrop, Alabama, population 11 or so, is their bustling folk rock township.
Musically, the band straddles the fine line between antebellum and antifolk, reconstructing indie pop with songs of love, dead people, and dead people in love. One fan described the town’s genre as “barnyard epic indie rock.” In 2007, they released their double-album debut, Your Big Plans and Our Little Town, on the nascent End Up label, followed by a series of EPs: the rebellious God Loves My Country and the companion records Subway Songs and Cowboy Songs.
Cast and Crew:
Jemison Thorsby – Pascal Balthrop – guitar, vocals
Georgiana Starlington – Lauren Balthrop – keyboards, vocals
Douglas Snead – Chris Buckridge – bass, alto saxophone
Benton Whitehall – Matt Moon – tenor saxophone
Aurora Rockledge – Alex Suarez – baritone saxophone
Miss 12-Year-Old Babbie Jackson – Annie Nero – bass
Clanton “Lake” Mitchell – Josh Kaufman – electric guitar, keyboards
Luverne Dozier – Therese Cox – accordion, vocals
Titus Falkner – Jason Lawrence – drums
Cotton Tyler Guin – Andrew Vladeck – banjo
Ansley Henderson – Mike Quoma – electric guitar
Toxey Goodwater – Michael Arthur – ink & paper
Press Quotes:
“An impressive début double album…and their approach to performing is equally inventive…” —The New Yorker
“Elaborate shows which feature the 10 or so members dressed as the aw-shucks residents of a fictional Southern town…breezy, melody-driven pop” —Village Voice
“What great fun in the form of a band called Balthrop, Alabama!” —Rainn Wilson (of The Office)
“I love them!!!” —Sarah Silverman
“Sweetly crooned loved songs inspired by apocalypse — a last kiss before the big bang…” —Memphis Flyer
“Always melody conscious, with a solid stash of hooks… enough people to fill a school board.” —Crawdaddy
“Eclectic — with songs of love, loss, and escape…great use of shared male/female vox…” —My Mix Tapes
“Like a raucous ad-hoc town meeting where everyone brings an instrument to play…” —Future Montgomery
“I’ve heard of the ‘concept album’, but this appears to be a ‘concept band’…” —Take Five, Asheville
“…like the touring company of ‘Barack Obama’s Rent’…” —Black & White, Birmingham
'm going to try to make the Pittsburgh show...
The CarlinClan is looking forward to seeing y'all in Austin.....we'll have a goooood time!!! Love 'ya.
Good Luck - let me know when you're going to Austin - I might just meet you there!
Dear Balthrop Alabama,
All I want is the balls.
Fondly,
Mrs. Schuster
P.S. Keep spreading the joy!